THE INSIDER AUTHORITY ON GATOR SPORTS

Playing under pressure: Dante Fowler

The 2014 Gators are on a mission. Last season was unacceptable in Gainesville and you’ll hear those exact words from Will Muschamp throughout his summer speaking tour.

Florida’s road won’t be easy with trips to Knoxville, Tuscaloosa and an end of the season date with the reigning national champions and the current Heisman Trophy winner. The road isn’t easy but it’s what the Gators have grown accustomed to and they’ll need to weather the storm to save Muschamp’s job.

With a younger team heading into this season, Florida will need to rely on players stepping into new leadership roles. This change will put more pressure on a few players who we’ll spotlight this week as the five that have the most pressure on their shoulders this season.

After getting things going with Austin Hardin and Andre Debose, we switch to the defensive side of the ball and perhaps the most important player on Will Muschamp’s defense, Dante Fowler Jr.

Overview:Fowler’s flip from Florida State to Florida on National Signing Day was sweet for Gator fans. Not only had they taken away a recruit from their instate rival, but they had taken away a great player, someone who could contribute right away. That’s exactly what Fowler did.

Fowler wrapped up his freshman campaign with 30 tackles, 8.5 for a loss, 2.5 sacks and one quarterback hurry. Fowler played in every game for the Gators and quickly became a nightmare for offensive linemen using his speed and quickness to beat them off the edge.

Fowler followed his first year up with a stellar sophomore season. He finished the year with 50 tackles, 10.5 for a loss, 35 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, seven quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.

Heading into his junior season, Fowler stands to make a lot of money after this year if he can continue to progress, stay healthy and forego his senior season to go to the NFL.

Why is he so important?
His freshman season, Fowler was a role player. He would come in situationally — mainly as a rusher in passing situations — but he had a lot of help on the defensive line. With Sharrif Floyd and Dominique Easley demanding extra attention and double teams, Fowler was given one-on-one situations where his speed could be used to make less athletic offensive tackles look slow on the edge.

Last season he had Easley, for three games, commanding double teams and attention down low. However, Fowler was able to keep his production level high after Easley’s injury, despite becoming the focus of each offensive line he went up against every Saturday.

His junior season will be more of the same. Fowler doesn’t have his old running mates to create favorable situations for him in the trenches, he will have a bullseye on his chest every week and teams will scheme ways to stop him.

The extra attention comes from being the best player on the defensive line; it’s also where the pressure comes from. Without other All-SEC type of players next to him Fowler needs to take his game to the next level if Florida’s production on defense is to remain the same as it has been under Will Muschamp.

It all starts up front for the defense and up front begins and ends with how disruptive Fowler can be.

Can he live up to the pressure?
This is tough. His performance after Dominique Easley went down last season was strong. Fowler put up career highs in tackles (8 vs. Georgia Southern) and sacks (2 vs. Kentucky) without Easley in the lineup.

This is also a huge year for Fowler if he wants to make an early exit and head to the NFL. He has the tools and is talented enough to make the jump but will need a solid junior campaign.

Fowler will have guys like Jon Bullard, Darious Cummings, Leon Orr and Jay-nard Bostwick around him but are any of those guys the caliber of player that Floyd or Easley were? No.

After playing sidekick for his first two seasons, Fowler is thrust into the spotlight as a junior. Florida needs him to be a leader on and off the football field and he’s slowly growing into that role.

About Nick de la Torre

A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC

He needs to be much better in 2014. The main things he needs to do is handle his assignment and become more of a run stopper. His failure to do his job in the Georgia game when he was supposed to drop back in coverage on the short pass that Gurley turned into a long touchdown is the most glaring example. As for setting the edge, his being dominated in the LSU game is not the only time that teams were able to were able to easily run right at him. I think he is a formidable pass rusher, but to be a complete player takes more than just chasing after the quarterback. Otherwise, he is a liability if the other ream is not in an obvious passing situation.

The 2014 Gators are on a mission. Last season was unacceptable in Gainesville and you’ll hear those exact words from Will Muschamp throughout his summer speaking tour.

Florida’s road won’t be easy with trips to Knoxville, Tuscaloosa and an end of the season date with the reigning national champions and the current Heisman Trophy winner. The road isn’t easy but it’s what the Gators have grown accustomed to and they’ll need to weather the storm to save Muschamp’s job.

With a younger team heading into this season, Florida will need to rely on players stepping into new leadership roles. This change will put more pressure on a few players who we’ll spotlight this week as the five that have the most pressure on their shoulders this season.

After getting things going with Austin Hardin and Andre Debose, we switch to the defensive side of the ball and perhaps the most important player on Will Muschamp’s defense, Dante Fowler Jr.

Overview:Fowler’s flip from Florida State to Florida on National Signing Day was sweet for Gator fans. Not only had they taken away a recruit from their instate rival, but they had taken away a great player, someone who could contribute right away. That’s exactly what Fowler did.

Fowler wrapped up his freshman campaign with 30 tackles, 8.5 for a loss, 2.5 sacks and one quarterback hurry. Fowler played in every game for the Gators and quickly became a nightmare for offensive linemen using his speed and quickness to beat them off the edge.

Fowler followed his first year up with a stellar sophomore season. He finished the year with 50 tackles, 10.5 for a loss, 35 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, seven quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.

Heading into his junior season, Fowler stands to make a lot of money after this year if he can continue to progress, stay healthy and forego his senior season to go to the NFL.

Why is he so important?
His freshman season, Fowler was a role player. He would come in situationally — mainly as a rusher in passing situations — but he had a lot of help on the defensive line. With Sharrif Floyd and Dominique Easley demanding extra attention and double teams, Fowler was given one-on-one situations where his speed could be used to make less athletic offensive tackles look slow on the edge.

Last season he had Easley, for three games, commanding double teams and attention down low. However, Fowler was able to keep his production level high after Easley’s injury, despite becoming the focus of each offensive line he went up against every Saturday.

His junior season will be more of the same. Fowler doesn’t have his old running mates to create favorable situations for him in the trenches, he will have a bullseye on his chest every week and teams will scheme ways to stop him.

The extra attention comes from being the best player on the defensive line; it’s also where the pressure comes from. Without other All-SEC type of players next to him Fowler needs to take his game to the next level if Florida’s production on defense is to remain the same as it has been under Will Muschamp.

It all starts up front for the defense and up front begins and ends with how disruptive Fowler can be.

Can he live up to the pressure?
This is tough. His performance after Dominique Easley went down last season was strong. Fowler put up career highs in tackles (8 vs. Georgia Southern) and sacks (2 vs. Kentucky) without Easley in the lineup.

This is also a huge year for Fowler if he wants to make an early exit and head to the NFL. He has the tools and is talented enough to make the jump but will need a solid junior campaign.

Fowler will have guys like Jon Bullard, Darious Cummings, Leon Orr and Jay-nard Bostwick around him but are any of those guys the caliber of player that Floyd or Easley were? No.

After playing sidekick for his first two seasons, Fowler is thrust into the spotlight as a junior. Florida needs him to be a leader on and off the football field and he’s slowly growing into that role.

Nick de la TorreNickde la Torrenick@gatorcountry.comAuthorA South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGCGatorCountry.com